We were lucky to catch up with Brianna Lyman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brianna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parent’s have always been extremely supportive of my artistic endeavors! From a very young age I wanted to participate in the Arts. I remember my parents paying for voice lessons, dance classes, art classes, and all of the high school clubs and teams I was on. My parents also paid my tuition while I went to college to earn my BFA. I remember being so nervous to tell them what I wanted to major in! I knew they would pay for 4 years of my tuition but I was nervous they would say no to a BFA in Musical Theatre. I should’ve known better because their reaction was essentially “Well… of course. What else would you major in?” Their support has continued into my adulthood. They come to every show Tooele Valley Theatre produces, help with ticket sales, and brag about our accomplishments with their friends, family, and really anyone who will listen! I wouldn’t be where I am today in my artistic career without my mom and dad!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been performing for as long as I can remember! I attended the University of Utah where I received by BFA in Musical Theatre in 2018.

In 2020 my husband, myself, and our friends started Tooele Valley Theatre. Since we started in 2020 we’ve produced 10 productions, 2 Youth Summer Camps, and many community outreach performances. I have been fortunate enough to wear many different hats for TVT in the last 3 years. Some of my favorites have been Directing Seussical Jr, Costuming Macbeth, and performing as Helen Bechdel in our production of Fun Home. I also teach voice lessons from my private studio in my home.

Everything I do with theatre I try to show love to everyone. I want everyone I direct, costume, teach, or perform with to feel loved. appreciated, and safe.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the best thing people can do to support artists in their community is to show up. Come and see what these artists are creating. Share your experience from this on social media and encourage your friends and family to see the art as well. Another extremely helpful thing is volunteering. Come and run the concession stand. Take posters around town to help advertise the show. Offer to help with sewing costumes, painting, or building the set.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Our job as the creative team with our Theatre Company is to make sure the audience can come and sit down and just enjoy the story unfolding in front of them. What’s not seen is everything going on behind the curtain. There are hundreds and hundreds of hours put into Tooele Valley Theatre’s production which the audience is completely unaware of. Of course- this is how we want it! We want our patrons to just be lost in the story! But I still think that is something which most non-creatives will struggle understanding is the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that go into our shows.

Contact Info:

• Website: tooelevalleytheatre.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tooelevalleytheatre
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tooelevalleytheatre

Image Credits
Headshot- Pepperfox Photo Macbeth Photos- Chad Henwood Callback Seussical Jr- Chad Henwood Fun Home Photo- Yunnie Kim